Laos seeks clean city award

VIENTIANE, 22 November 2016: Laos is believes its top tourist destination, Luang Prabang, is a contender to gain the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Standard (ACTCS) in early 2018.

Vientiane Times quoted Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism’s Tourism Development Department deputy director, Phonemaly Inthaphome, saying the world heritage town would present its application soon.

“During our last meeting we collected information that would support Luang Prabang’s application. There are 108 criteria that need to be met.”

Officials are confident that the town can meet the strict criteria that is hotly congested by both emerging and established tourist destinations.

Cambodia is also making its own presentation for ASEAN Clean Tourist City recognition, but has still to decide which city it will put forward according to Agence Kampuchea Presse.

The purpose of the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Standard (ACTCS) is to provide ASEAN member countries with a tool that will improve the quality of tourism in their cities, increase their marketing competitiveness and also improve the environment for local residents.

The standard focuses on tourist cities where there is flow of visitors and where cultural, natural and/ or man-made attractions exist.